Julia Fielding watched Owen Granger as he left the room, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"You okay, mom?" Kensi asked, eyeing her warily.

Julia shook her head and smiled at her daughter.

"I'm fine."

Kensi raised an enquiring eyebrow in a way that was highly reminiscent of Donald. Julia shivered.

"Something's bothering you," Kensi tried to lead none to subtly.

Honestly, weren't federal agents meant to be better than that? Julia narrowed her eyes. It was still slightly disconcerting how well her daughter could read her despite them only getting reacquainted the past few years. She supposed it was to do with being a federal agent. Observing people and all that.

"Did Granger say something?" Kensi tried, a worried look on her face.

Hmm, Julia wondered what that could be about. What on earth would Owen Granger be saying to worry her? Maybe something to try and pry out of Martin later. Though, that would be difficult. That man of Kensi's guarded her secrets so close that they may as well be a part of him.

"He's seems to always be here," Julia said quietly.

Kensi shrugged, "He is my boss," then she frowned. "Actually, my boss' boss. I think. Hetty's my boss."

"That small woman with the severe expression and glasses?"

Julia didn't know what to make of that woman. She never really got the chance to talk to her. Hell, she'd only seen her a few times. Hetty was definitely not someone Julia could see heading up a team of specialised federal agents. It didn't stop her from getting the shivers every time the woman looked at her.

She snorted, a smirk curling her lips, "Yep, that's Hetty. I don't think anyone's the boss of her"

Julia raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She didn't know what job you had to have to get your boss' boss of a federal agency visit you regularly in hospital. To be honest, she didn't want to know. It was bad enough that her daughter's job got her into this state, Julia did not need to know the specifics. This whole situation gave her enough nightmares as it was. She hated the fact that her daughter was in such a dangerous job. She knew Kensi wasn't a 'simple federal agent'. Simple federal agents didn't fall into a coma due to injuries contracted in a war zone. Yes, she had seen the clothes Kensi had arrived in.

Julia shook her head. She'd had enough of this sort of thing with Donald. It was even worse because it was her daughter. She didn't like it.

She'd tried to broach the idea of maybe leaving NCIS because of these injuries and they'd got into an argument about it. There'd been enough arguments between them and they never resulted in anything good so she'd backed off. She still didn't like it, though.

Kensi cocked her head and chewed on the inside of her lip. She still did that?

"You sure everything's okay?"

No, it wasn't. Not really. Julia didn't understand why someone as (apparently) important as Assistant Director Granger would be constantly in and out. Was there something going on with whatever Kensi was supposed to be a part of? It was all very worrying.

That, and Julia was almost certain that she'd seen one Owen Granger before.

Julia put a smile on her face, "Yes," she smoothed out Kensi's covers. "Everything's fine."

Kensi still looked suspicious but thankfully she let it go.

"It's a bit unusual for him to come during the day. I'm pretty sure he's been checking up on me when I'm asleep," Kensi told her.

Now it was Julia's turn to look curious.

"How do you know that? Had someone else seen him? And isn't that a bit creepy?"

Julia would certainly be worried if people who weren't nurses or immediate family were in her room when she was sleeping.

Kensi just brushed her off.

"I'm pretty sure I saw him the other night when Deeks came in the evening."

"And he didn't say hi or anything?" Julia asked, bewildered.

"Why would he? He went away before Deeks saw him. I don't think I was meant to see him."

"And you're okay with that?" Julia asked incredulously.

What sort of weirdos did her daughter work for?

"Well, yes," Kensi replied, giving her a blank look. "It's Granger. He doesn't do people."

"He doesn't do-? Never mind," Julia said, pinching the bridge of her nose and breathing deeply. "How are you feeling today?"

"Same as usual. Alive, can't do much, tired and fed up," Kensi rattled off.

Julia tutted at her. Honestly, she was acting like a child who'd had its favourite toy taken from it.

"You're tired because you're healing," she scolded.

"Well, I'm done with healing," Kensi sulked.

"Your body isn't, " Julia said sharply.

Argh, she didn't mean it to come out like that but Kensi was being infuriating. She appeared to be under the impression that she should be able to just bounce back from this when she just couldn't! She wasn't some sort of super human!

At least Kensi gave her a somewhat regretful and repentant look.

"Oh, don't mind me," she said I'm a more cheerful tone, shaking back her head so her curls fell down her back. "I've spent too much time listening to the voices in the back of my head."

"I wouldn't have thought you to have any time for that with the number of visitors you get," Julia pointed out wryly.

Every time she came someone was leaving or coming in!

Kensi shrugged, "It's what family does."

Julia gave her daughter and odd look before nodding thoughtfully. If she thought about it, Kensi's mismatched co-workers really did operate like a strange little family. Julia couldn't quite understand (or really approve) but she saw how they supported each other and, more importantly, her daughter and there was some real love and compassion there. It worked in their own strange, little way.

"I suppose it is."